Thread: Tilt top table WIP

First pic. I thought I include this one because it shows the Veritas block plane with the accessory handle. It turns what is a great block plane into an even better and more versatile one - highly recommended. I'm also cleaning up the tear out in the bottom of the table top- turning tends to be a bit rough in such grain and I wasn't all that keen to sit there and fill the neighborhood with sanding dust so I'll plane and scrape it.

Second pic. Is the final scraping of the bottom and shaped edge. I started by band sawing out the shape, rough carving, and then finishing it with rasps and some very course sandpaper. I'll now leave the inside work till much later on in the process as I may have to remove more material as the project takes shape. I'm still waiting for the Veritas scraper plane to show up, but the Stanley did a good job as did the LN 85. The Stanley 112 is better at taking light shavings and doing a final clean up and the LN 85 excels at taking real heavy shaving as it has a very rigid fixed blade.

Third pic. At this stage I decided to move to the legs. I sketched out what I wanted and then cut out an MDF pattern. I've left it very chunky for now so I'll be able to evolve the shape as things progress. I had just glued on the extra bits for the paws and was shaping the leg when I realized I was doing things in the wrong order. So for now I've put the legs down to concentrate on the pedestal. I need to have the pedestal turned before I can tell what the proportions of the legs need to be to have balance.

Pic four. The rough turned pedestal. I've been turning for over 25 years so I'm pretty confident in my eye for detail that I could get the pedestal right the first time and use that for the basis to determine the proportions of the legs and other small bits. I also have a really good book by a fellow named Albert Sacks called Good, Better and Best. It details the subtle differences that separate a masterpiece from the just average. I have some lines drawn on it to layout the carving I'm contemplating. I'll flute the column, and at this time trying to work out what floral carving I'll add. Definitely some decisions that can't be hurried.

Stay tuned for more

Writing isn't my strong point so I'll take more pictures.

Nice one! Can't wait to see the finished product.

Damien

Lots of luck with your carving. There was a FWW article on making one of those tops a while back - called a 'Pie Crust' top IIRC. The detailed carved edges are actually carved in small bits & glued (?and pinned?) on - made from the same piece of wood as the solid top of course.

Lookin' good from here! I admire your courage for taking that on!

Very nice indeed looking froward to seeing the finished product

I wont mention the flowery wallpaper/curtains behind the lathe it might you

TA,

You don’t muck around with little Mickey Mouse projects do you? This one is like one of those master classes in FWW mag. I think you should send this project to them and I am sure they will publish it.

This is a tough one and it is beyond my woodworking skills but I have an excuse. It is not my style.


Rating:

Hi Matthew,

This is amazing. I'm loving every second of this.

and I agree with Wongo!

cheers
Wendy

TA,

Looks fantastic - I admire your skills and your courage (way beyond my current levels).

I also like your holding table - think I'll make myself one. It looks like it spins - is it on some kind of lazy susan or is it just sitting in a vice?

Cheers,
Adam

This is going to be a must read WIP. I have seen your other work and its world class. Great stuff

Matt,
How did you shape the pie crust edge? The second picture in Part Two post, is that the table top or underside?

Thanks
Wendy

I think it's time I dropped over!

Cheers,

P

It's going to be a fabulous heirloom quality piece, Matthew.
If I live to be 100 I know my work will never come up to this standard.

This is a league above where I play.

Regards
John